Awards

The Exceptional

This organic, green olive oil was produced in early October 2014. The healthy green Amfissis variety (” Konservolia “) olives, were carefully picked from olive-groves of old, rain-fed trees in central Pelion, at an altitude of 400m. The entire production process was overseen by Vasilis Frantzolas, olive oil tester and consultant, to ensure a number of requirements. The resulting olive oil has intense aromas of freshly cut grass, tomato leaves and green almonds and its flavor is moderately bitter and spicy. These are the characteristics of Pelion Olive Farms’ product, best of V. Frantzolas’s olive oil for year 2014-2015.

The Beginning

In 2011, during one of his visits to central Greece, V. Frantzolas sampled the olive oil produced by a group of small organic farmers in Pelion, and was impressed by its high quality because they use Amfissis variety olives, which are usually consumed as table olives in that area. After several meetings with the farmers, they decided that there was potential for substantial improvement in the quality of the olive oil, as long as strict standards were upheld at the stages of olive-picking, of oil milling, and of storage. These efforts resulted in the production of the organic extra virgin olive oil Pelion Olive Farms in October 2012. This won a number of the most prestigious awards in the field of olive oil (five awards in the six first months of being placed on the market).

The year 2014-5 seems to have produced another exceptional olive oil, perhaps unique in aromas and flavor, mainly due to the olive variety (Amfissis), but also to the timely collection of the olive fruit (8th-15th of October) and then the stringent procedures used in the oil extraction mill.

The Amfissis Olive Variety

According to the scientific literature, the Amfissis olive is high in polyphenols. So if the healthy olives are picked early, from the end of October until 15 November at the latest, so that 90% of the olives are green to purple-colored, and if the highest standards of procedure are upheld at the oil-mill, the result will be an olive-oil (green olive-oil) of an exceptional quality.

Production Process

The oil production was planned and organized together with the smallholders of organic olive-groves in the Pelion region. Every day during the first ten days of October 2014, the carefully picked green olives were transferred, in special plastic containers, to the nearby mill. The grinding process took place each evening after five. At all stages of production (malaxation, centrifugation, separation) the temperature was kept carefully below 27 degrees Celsius. It is well established that in order to produce a high quality olive oil with rich aromas and high in polyphenols, the malaxation of the olive paste should not exceed 30 -35 minutes, at a maximum temperature of 28 degrees C.

The 2014-5 Pelion Olive Farms Olive Oil

The oil has a rare complex fruity flavor, while its aromas are characterized by bold tones of green tomato, freshly-cut grass, and olive leaves. The bitter and spicy tones are also strongly present, at an almost equal intensity, indicating that exceptional, well balanced oil had just been born! Each evening, the olive oil was filtered through paper filters to avoid unwanted future fermentations. Then the oil was stored in stainless steel tanks, supplied continuously with nitrogen gas for better protection and storage. The immediate bottling, and maintenance of the olive oil at 15 degrees Celsius, ensures it is kept in the same excellent state as when it leaves the oil-mill.

According to the chemical analyses, both acidity (0,23%) and peroxides (6,5 mEqO2 / kg) are very low indicating a high quality olive oil. The values are given in detail below, in the certificate from the accredited laboratory, Multichrom.lab .

The organoleptic characteristics are excellent, ie. Fruity: 5.2 Bitter: 3.2 and Spicy: 3.8 as defined by the Certified Panel of the Ministry of Development (see below certificate).

The Expert

Vasilis Frantzolas was born in Athens, but his family originates from Ligourio in eastern Peloponnese having a long tradition of 70 years in marketing and standardization of olive oil. Vasilis initially followed his own career as a civil engineer.

In 2003, he was first officially trained in olive oil organoleptic evaluation during a seminar funded by the EU, in Sparta, Greece. Since 2006, he has been systematically giving seminars to people who are interested to produce quality extra virgin olive oil. He has followed several training courses in Greece and Italy for the organoleptic assessment of olive oils. In 2009, he completed a Master’s degree in Food Policy at the City University of London. In 2012, he followed a weekly training organoleptic evaluation course in Italy, organized by the National Association of Italian Olive Oil Tasters (ONAOO).

He is a member of the International Group of Olive Oil Experts “Varietals”, who spread the concept and advantages of high quality extra virgin olive oils. Besides teaching in seminars (www.oliveoilseminars.com) Vasilis Frantzolas is also an olive oil consultant for farmers and olive oil producers.

He is the writer of two cookbooks, one of which entitled “Flavours of the Sea” (published by Patakis Editions), in May 2006, won the first prize for “Literary Gastronomy” by the International Academy of Gastronomy headquartered in Paris.

The initial nose is typical of an oil made from olives that are picked and milled immediately: a healthy olive plucked off the tree and crushed in the hand. On lightly warming the oil begins to release more grassy tones which tingle in the nose and stimulate salivation. In the mouth it is satisfyingly full and the flavour of raw peas is much in evidence. Bitterness is slight whereas the pungency comes on fairly rapidly and decisively and is quite persistent. The flavours of fresh green vegetables are very pleasant and linger while the mouth is left feeling clean. A delicious and well-balanced oil.

Johnny Madge – Olive oil taster – Slow Food Italy

This is a BIG oil! Rustic and bold, it starts with a green grassy aroma, followed by a fruity taste suggestive of an early harvest oil that has had a chance to mellow out a bit. It continues with herbal – almost “sagey or wild thyme” – notes in the mid-range, combined with a strong bitterness that blends into a big peppery finish, pleasantly lingering.

Orders

Decision makers at food stores or specialty food shops can request for a free of charge delivery of one bottle 500 ml in order to have the chance to taste this unique olive oil.

We accept also orders from individuals only in quantities of six (6) bottles of 500 ml each (one full case) by contacting us directly at orders@pelionolivefarms.gr. Depending on the quantities ordered and the point of delivery rates will vary accordingly.